Wednesday, September 2, 2015

IWSG - September: Sitting on the Fence

The Insecure Writers Support Group meets online every first Wednesday of the month. Founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh, IWSG was created to support and encourage all writers in every phase of their work, from writing to marketing. Click here to join, and for information, writing tips and more.

Where has time gone? It is now officially over one year since I moved to my new home and community. I brought with me a novel that begged completion and an inner voice that nagged me constantly. "Are you kidding me? Just how serious are you? You should have finished this novel months......no, years ago!" I suspect there are some in my family who would echo the same.

So why do I continue making promises, sitting on the fence, waiting for that magic moment? Because it's TRUE. The story is complete and aside from the tweaks I'm doing with my new editing software, SmartEdit, I've about exhausted all I can do. So....bear with me, dear blog friends. I promise I will produce!

Meanwhile, I've been impressed with the support the blog community offers its members. Since my goal has been to publish my novel, I've been slowly converting my blog to one more supportive of others in the same boat. I've added an author blog roll of YA/MG writers and another with Author Helps. The list continues to grow as I discover more links. Also, I took Lexa Cain's advice and added a "Celebrate the Small Things" blog roll at the bottom. Blog rolls can clutter up a blog, I admit, but they are extremely helpful in knowing when others post. I tried using Feedly for this purpose, but the extra steps and organization was too time consuming. So for now....this is the best I can think to do.

One goal I've had is to read more books and short stories published by other bloggers, in their support. I spent some time organizing my e-reader (a few books in print) and was surprised at the books I'd acquired. I'm not a fast reader and resist skim reading, but want to mention the books and short stories I have read, ones I'm currently reading, and ones I plan to read. I wish I could do a real review of these, but I'm committed to the reviews I already do, which just about maxes out my capabilities and time. Not sure how the rest of you manage writing and reading. I'm slow as molasses.Here are some AWESOME published authors and their works:Reading and Enjoying Now:--Beyond Suspicion by Catherine A. Winn(YA) Accused of murder and her little brother missing, fifteen-year-old Shelby faces the challenge of a lifetime. --CassaFire by Alex J. Cavanaugh (Adult Sci-fi )A Star Trek space adventure complete with racial tension, space ships, mysterious aliens about to attack, and a love story. --The City of Refuge (Book 1) by D.M. Wilder (Historical fiction) A mystery set in Egypt about one man's journey on the Paths of Righteousness. A story of revenge and renewal.

Read and Enjoyed:

--Moonless (Maiden of Time) by Crystal Collier (YA)Sixteen-year-old Alexia has no idea she comes from a strange breed of people and that lives are in danger, until she meets a frightening man who becomes the love of her life.--"The Mission" by L.X. Cain (Short Story) (YA, MG)Two boys and a spooky mission, where a giant plant from one's worst nightmare threatens their lives.--Loathe your Neighbor by D.A. Cairns (Adult Fiction)Meet David Lavender, a man who must bear the consequences of ill thought out actions and a neighbor who brings out his worst.--"Ghost of Death" by Chrys Fey (Short Story) (Adult Fiction) A mysterious murder is solved with the help of a ghost.On Shelf to Read (and growing....):

--Alligators Overhead by C. Lee Mckenzie (YA)--The Great Timelock Disaster (sequel) by C. Lee Mckenzie (YA)--Imogene and the Case of the Missing Pearls by Elizabeth Varadan (Middle Grade)--25 Flowers by Stephanie Faris (Middle Grade)--Counting to D by Kate Scott (YA)--Breakthrough by Stephen Tremp (YA)--Ursa Major by Tamara Narayan (YA)--Odin Cats by Sandra Cox (YA)--Who R U Really by Margo Kelly (YA) --12 Days of Krista May Rose by Rebeccah Giltrow (Adult)--A Muddy Red River by D.A. Cairns (Adult)--In Praise of Lilith, Eve & Serpent in the Garden of Eden & Other Stories by Susan Scott (Nonfiction)--Stranger or Friend by Silvia Villalobos (Adult)--Khamsin, The Devil Wind of the Nile by Inge H. Borg(Historical fiction) --Not a Drop to Drink by Patsy Collins (Short stories)--Lady Thy Name is Trouble by Lori L. MacLaughlin (Fantasy)--The Ghosts of Aquinnah by Julie Flanders (Mystery)--Woven by Michael Jensen & David Powers King (YA)

Time seems to whizz by when your not looking! It does sound as though you are nearly there with your editing so congrats on that. I look forward to hearing about your next step. Highlighting and supporting fellow writers is a wonderful thing to do, like you my TBR list grows all the time!

I want SmartEdit buy there's not MAC version :( Sounds great, and it's getting you closer to the publishing point. :) I also read really slow and have a bad memory. Always have, which makes reading and reviewing is hard work!!

Great idea, setting a deadline. When I wrote nonfiction for Greenhaven and Lucent Press, deadlines were critical. But I need to finish the SmartEdit process first. Did not realize there was so much to check. Amazing software. I highly recommend it.

Congrats on getting your book completed except for tweaks. That's great! I'm glad the blog roll advice is helping you stay organized. Thanks so much for the shout out about The Mission!! My TBR list is getting as long as yours. If only there were more hours in the day...

Wow, thanks for reading CassaFire! I'm honored.Supporting others is one of the greatest things we can do.Do you have critique partners lined up? They'll help you polish to perfect and get that manuscript out there.

You're welcome! I may pass it onto my husband. He loves space adventures.

I'm almost afraid to put my ms through the critique process again. Ten critiques three years ago sent me back to the drawing board, and much has changed. My husband did another edit a year ago, thought it was ready...well, I found more to fix. So I'm torn....do I need another full critique, or a copy edit? I have yet to line up critique partners here....I'm pretty isolated in my new community and have no interest in a beginner's group.

THANKS, I need to give this some thought. I assume when you say partnering with someone, there is no cost for the service, but an even exchange. That's been my experience. Also trust is a big issue. I'm encouraged that you found partners this way.

Congrats on completing your book! I hope the rest of the tweaks go well and you can get it out there so we can read it soon. There are so many books by bloggers I have to read yet. The list just keeps getting longer, but I am really trying.

Good luck on the tweaking Sharon! When does one stop I wonder? I'm in the same boat with the WIP. I love reading, and about what others are reading and nearly fell off my chair when I saw mine there (blush):) My Kindle is coming along with me tomorrow when I fly off to Turkey ... I have a CS Lewis (Narnia) book 'Till we haves Faces', a retelling of the Psyche and Amor myth, which I've heard is excellent and I'm looking forward to reading. Although I have several others on Kindle as well ..Tempus Fugit: next year when your 2nd year of relocation happens, you will not believe it. It's how I feel after our two years and a few months ... where the H did the time go?

Thanks...I need to get busy. And good luck on your WIP too!Ooh....another C.S. Lewis fan. He helped shape my thinking early on, but I have not read all. Could not resist buying your book....your A-Z was fascinating :) Safe trip to Turkey, my friend.

Moving to a new place is stressful, even if it is good stress! It's wonderful that you are in the tweaking stage--can't wait to get there myself :). I hope you enjoy my novel! Thanks for supporting me and setting your goal of supporting others--that's something we writers should all get on board to do!

Thanks! I think I'm finally over the stress part. Meanwhile, I've been sitting in the back watching everyone support each other and thought it was time to offer some myself. The talent in this community is incredible. I feel honored to be a part. Have started your novel and it's wonderful, Catherine :)

I agree with the others. Write your query and start sending it out. You write so beautifully, and engage your audience with your posts, and I can't imagine a novel by you would not be excellent. Keep me posted!

I think it's so cool how you want to support authors more on your blog. Sounds like you have a lot of books on your plate! (Or, rather, your e-reader. LOL.) And gosh, I can relate so well to being "slow as molasses." I keep trying to figure out how to be speedier when it comes to reading, drawing, etc, but I always seem to fail, haha. Anyway, best of luck with your writing and getting out of the endless cycle of tweaking! (I can relate to the latter far too well, too... XD)

But life is good, eh Birgit? I try to focus on steps forward, be it ever so slow. And one thing about having a full plate, we never get bored :) The big question I sometimes have is whether I should be doing something else or the current goal more.....or less. Family and faith definitely trump all...but it's never that simple.